Letters to the editor Aug. 27

The 8th annual Buehler's Heart and Sole Community Walk/Run event served as the kick off of the United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties' 2012 annual fundraising campaign.

Weatherwise, it was a perfect day for a race or walk, and the turnout for this year's race was record setting with over 631 registered to run, 100 of them signing up on race day.

The race exemplifies the beauty of community/individual partnerships. Our wonderful planning committee -- Pam Tegtmeier, Lance White, Brian Coote, Diane Jarrett, Scott Rotolo and Jen Carstensen -- was key in the planning and execution of this wonderful event. Our generous business sponsors helped underwrite race expenses so that more dollars could be returned to the community. Amy Gardener sang a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, and Don and Shirley Buehler gave words of encouragement and sounded the start. And finally, thanks to our 600+ runners and the many volunteers who staffed the water stops, registration and food tables, rode bikes leading the three different events and cheered on the runners. You made the 2012 race our best yet!

The keys to the success of this year's race are exactly what it will take for our community to have a successful campaign. There was excitement for the event, there were participants of all ages, and everyone chose their level of participation according to their ability. The same can be said for participation in the campaign. Everyone is invited to participate at their own level, but like the race, we need everyone to work together to achieve success.

It was a great day and a successful event, and just as with the success of the race which started our 2012 campaign, so must our campaign end on a successful note by surpassing the $1.4 million dollar campaign goal. It does not matter your level of participation. What is important is that you are willing to get in the race and help our wonderful community make our goal and help meet the many economic, health and educational needs that exist in our community.

On behalf of our United Way Board, staff and partner agencies, we thank you in advance for your continued and much need support for this year's campaign. The race is on. Please join in to help make it a success!

Bill DeRodes

United Way Board Chairman

Wooster

Put God and His cause first

Editor:

When you set aside a tenth of your income, God knows you'll become heavenly minded. Your heart and mind will focus on heaven. How great it is to know that as we set aside our tenth, the money goes directly to proclaim the gospel and continue Jesus' work. It's going around the world to spread the truth of God, so people will be ready for Jesus when He comes at the first resurrection.

What a promise is given in Proverbs 3:9-10: "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase, so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."

God says, "Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of your increase." Put God first -- not last -- in your life and in your budget. Set aside the first fruits for Him first. Then this is His promise: God says if we're faithful in our tithe, He'll fill us with plenty. We'll burst forth with heaven's blessings. God says if we're faithful in our tithe, what we'll get is far greater than what we give. The individual and the business that operates on the tithing principle enter into a partnership with God!

Many of our country's greatest business leaders have been Christians who have put God's plan to test and found that tithing does pay financially as well as spiritually. A few examples may suffice to illustrate their successful experience:

William Colgate -- who built the prosperous Colgate Palmolive Company

John D. Rockefeller Sr. -- founder of the Standard Oil Company

Henry John Heinz -- of H. J. Heinz "57 Varieties" and pickle fame

James Cash Penney -- who started the J. C. Penney "Golden Rule" stores